Six Warning Signs to Look Out for When Buying a Used Car
Car prices are still rising significantly from 2019, making buying even a used car a serious investment that requires research and consideration . If you’re buying a used car, you obviously want to buy one that will last as long as you need it to, and you’ll want to check its quality as thoroughly as possible before you pull the trigger. This is a large purchase, so you pull up the vehicle’s history report and look for obvious signs of damage or other problems.
What about the non-obvious signs? Just because the car in question has a clean history, appears to be in good condition and drives well does not necessarily mean it is a gem. Ultimately, you’ll have to go with your gut when deciding to spend a small fortune on a used car, and knowing how to look out for these subtle red flags can help you avoid accidentally buying a lemon you’ll regret.
Low price
First of all, the price must be adequate. It’s one thing to find a good deal or haggle to get a great price, but it’s another thing entirely to stumble upon an absolute steal. Your research should tell you the expected price range for the make and model of the car you’re considering. If the price of the car you’re considering is significantly lower, it’s not a deal, but a red flag . First, the likelihood of fraud is inversely proportional to price. If it’s not technically a scam, it’s often a sign that the seller knows the car has hidden problems and is trying to actively shield themselves from complaints.
Wavy panels
You’ve found a unicorn: a moderately priced used car that looks almost new and is in excellent condition. There are no accidents listed, but there is one more thing to check. Get closer and look at the side of the car: are the metal panels on the outside of the car wavy? Do you see a lot of indentations that are hard to see when looking straight on? These may be signs that the car has had body work done, and not very well. This in turn implies an accident that was never included in the official records.
Electrical oddities
It’s easy to overlook small problems with used car electrical systems. We usually test them in bright daylight, so it can be difficult to notice when the light is failing or operating erratically. However, it is worth noting; Flickering lights or electronic components that do not operate correctly or consistently may indicate unprofessional electrical repairs or possible water damage from a flood.
Turn on all your exterior lights and have someone press the brake pedal—if the lights flicker, dim, or go out, you have a problem. If you have to press the brake pedal really, really hard to get the tail lights to come on, that’s also a bad sign. And any electrical components that don’t work properly but weren’t listed in the car’s description should be considered something the seller hoped you wouldn’t notice.
Bald tires
If you’re looking for a used car, learn how to check for bald tires —tires that have little or no tread left. Bald tires aren’t just dangerous; they’re often a sign that the owner isn’t keeping up with vehicle maintenance—and unlike other deferred repairs, bald tires can be easy to overlook. Even if the car looks great and performs well, if the owner is willing to ride what are essentially fancy hot air balloons, you have to wonder what else he hasn’t paid much attention to—and is quite willing to make your problem.
Strange improvements
You may have found a solid looking beater that will get you through a short period of time. Everything looks good, and there’s even a little bonus: the inside is brand new carpeting!
Yes, this is a red flag. People don’t pay to upgrade random aspects of their old junk cars. New carpet, new upholstery, recent paint job, but the car is rusting underneath – such inappropriate upgrades won’t win you the day; this is a huge red flag that this car was damaged and everything was replaced to hide the fact.
Moved icons
” Badges ” on cars are metal logos affixed directly to the car’s body that communicate the make , model, and other aspects of the car (some dealerships add their own, and owners sometimes place special badges on their cars as well). If the badges on a used car somehow look out of place or are attached unevenly, it could be a sign that they were removed for some major repair work that is not noted in the car’s history, or that the previous Owner did a lot of work on it. by yourself, which may or may not be a problem. If the icons look wonky, there are a few questions to ask.